At the International AIDS Conference in Toronto, US efforts to introduce stronger intellectual property rules in bilateral trade agreements were noted to undermine the fight against AIDS by limiting ability of developing countries to access affordable medicines. 'Under the name of free trade, the US is pushing for monopoly on new medicines, thus driving up the cost for some of the world’s poorest people,' said Rohit Malpani, policy advisor for Oxfam International. 'Neither patients nor governments will be able to afford the new antiretroviral medicines essential to address the pandemic.'
Health equity in economic and trade policies
US free trade agreements block access to medicines
Oxfam International: 16 August 2006
Asian Peoples’ Tribunal on Poverty and Debt
International People\'s Forum versus the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF)
This petition was prepared in time for the annual meeting of the IMF-World Bank, 19-20 September in Singapore. The Tribunal received a petition from peoples’ organisations, citizens groups, social movements and NGOs from various countries in Asia seeking justice for the impact of debt on the lives, livelihood and well-being, human rights of the peoples of Asia, on the environment, ecological systems, economies and political affairs of many countries in the region. The same petition charges the IMF, World Bank (WB) and ADB of responsibility for the intensification of poverty and deprivation, violation of basic human rights, in addtion to other faults. By so doing, signataries hope that they will be compelled to review their actions and calculate and quantify the damages wrought by their policies or people.
Drug purchase facility as shining example of innovative funding
United Nations Secretary-General SG/SM/10645 (AIDS/128), 19 September 2006
This excerpt contains the text of United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s remarks at the official launch of UNITAID, the International Drug Purchase Facility, in New York today, 19 September. The Secretary General began by acknowledging this international facility for the purchase of drugs as a shining example of an innovative source of funding that can help us reach the Millennium Development Goals. The full speech can be found at the weblink above.
Press statement by the organisers of the International Peoples Forum versus IMF-WB
The International People\'s Forum (IPF), 18 September 2006
International People's Forum organizers issued this press startement to celebrate a successful forum and share plans for ways forward. On 18 September the IPF concluded the International Peoples Forum vs. the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (IPF), which was convened in Batam from September 15th to17th. Over 500 Indonesians participated in the Forum as did around 200 individuals from 25 countries representing at least 100 organisations. Amongst several other urgent requests made was that for stopping the imposition of policy conditions that undermine economic sovereignty and exacerbate crises in health and education. The statement ends with a call on the governments that are members of the World Bank and IMF Boards of Directors to keep these institutions fully accountable for their impacts on human rights, equity, and the sustainability of development.
SADC and HIV/AIDS: Countries should utilise TRIPS flexibilities
Mabika AH: Southern and Eastern African Trade, Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI) Bulletin 9 (4), 28 August 2006
The TRIPS plus provisions called for by the United States are worrisome in as far as access to HIV/AIDS life saving drugs, and SADC leaders should be ary of these provisions. SADC member countries should amend their current legislation to take advantage of the regulatory flexibility permitted by TRIPS before making any Intellectual Property-related commitments. SADC should reject any TRIPS-plus proposals and ensure that the standards of Intellectual Property protection in TRIPS remain the minimum standards.
The GATS and South Africa’s National Health Act: A cautionary tale
Sinclair S: Municipal Services Project, Occasional Papers 11, June 2006
This research shows not only how GATS conflicts with the National Health Act, but also how General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) threatens national sovereignty and impedes the achievement of our constitution’s socio-economic rights. South African trade officials have repeatedly denied that GATS covers South African health services, but this study reveals that it covers almost all health services delivered outside of hospitals. South Africa’s dilemma should serve as a warning that health policy-makers, governments and citizens need to be more attentive to GATS negotiations currently underway in Geneva. Instead of the current negotiations to broaden and deepen GATS coverage, there needs to be an assessment of the treaty’s defects and joint international action to create more democratic international governance frameworks.
Time to listen to Lesotho! The World Bank's new anti-corruption agenda
Van Vuuren H: Bretton Woods Project, 11 September 2006
The World Bank and the home countries of corporations implicated in corruption in the Lesotho Highlands Water Scheme have many reasons to be shame-faced for the lack of support that Lesotho has been shown in its tenacious efforts to tackle corruption. At the very least the epitaph on the corruption and bribery trials needs to read that the conduct of international finance institutions and corporations in Lesotho must not be allowed to be repeated elsewhere.
Glossary on the World Trade Organisation and public health: Part 2
Labonte R, Sanger M: Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 60: 738-744, 2006
Part 1 of this glossary introduced different health and trade arguments, overviewed the history of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), defined key "trade talk" terms, and reviewed three WTO treaties concerned with trade in goods (GATT 1994, the Agreement on Agriculture, and the Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures). Part 2 reviews five more agreements and the growing number of bilateral and regional trade agreements, and concludes with a commentary on different strategies proposed to ensure that health is not compromised by trade liberalisation treaties.
How do intellectual property law and international trade agreements affect access to ART?
Westerhaus M, Castro A: Plos Medicine, 3(8), 8 August 2006
This paper examines the key areas of concern regarding access to antiretroviral treatment (ART) related to US-negotiated bilateral, regional, and multilateral trade agreements. It examines developments in IP law in the wake of WTO's Doha Declaration, which affirmed the priority of public health over the protection of patents. It looks specifically at those developments with particular salience for health related issues and link this history with the current context of access to antiretrovirals (ARVs) worldwide. It further suggests policy and advocacy strategies to ensure and promote access to ART.
Poor company: The impact of British business on poor people
Curtis M, July 2006
The British Parliament is currently examining changes to company law in what some commentators have billed as potentially the largest shakeup in business law for 150 years. This report observes however that the law protects corporations from serious accountability for their activities, especially where their impact is harshest - on poor people overseas. This report brings evidence together on selected British company activities internationally summarising research by various NGOs, campaign groups and
others. It focuses on a select number of British companies and alleges a range of practices harmful to worker and community health.